Things to know about federal law enforcement activity in Chicago, Portland, Memphis

MEMPHIS Tenn AP Armed federal agents patrolled Chicago s downtown streets on Sunday a new escalation of an immigration enforcement crackdown there that followed President Donald Trump s announcement that he will send troops to Portland in the latest examples of creeping federal law enforcement presence in U S cities Meanwhile Republican Tennessee Gov Bill Lee has stated federal functionaries including immigration and drug enforcement agents are expected to arrive in Memphis starting this week In Chicago on Sunday dozens of armed federal agents in full tactical gear walked the streets of certain of the city s largest part prominent tourist and shopping areas That comes amid a surge of immigration enforcement that began early this month including repeated conflict at an ICE building in Broadview west of Chicago where federal officers on Friday and Saturday fired pepper balls and tear gas at protesters Trump disclosed on social media Saturday that he was directing the Department of Defense to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland Trump declared the decision was necessary to protect U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities His announcement was met with pushback from Oregon s Democratic governor The moves follow Trump s crime crackdown in the District of Columbia and actions in Los Angeles in response to immigration protests that turned violent with the arrival of troops Here s a rundown of prospective and current federal law enforcement activity in Chicago Portland and Memphis Chicago On Sunday federal agents marched along Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River attracting attention from shoppers and families dining at sidewalk cafes Countless pulled out cameras to record A small group of activists also trailed the U S Customs and Territory line Protection agents Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson blasted the sudden physical show of force While Chicagoans and visitors are enjoying another gorgeous Sunday they are being intimidated by masked federal agents flaunting automatic weapons for no apparent reason Johnson commented in a comment This is another brazen provocation from the Trump administration that does nothing to make our city safer Two days earlier agents repeatedly fired chemical agents toward a crowd of over protesters after specific of the group attempted to block a car from driving down a street toward the ICE building Pepper bullets and tear gas canisters went into the crowd majority of them standing away from the fence and not blocking traffic Broadview s mayor criticized ICE for actions that she announced have endangered local police firefighters residents near the facility and protesters In previous weeks protesters had also tried to block agents vehicles from moving in or out of a yard next to the building Activists and family members of detainees have raised concerns in latest days that the facility meant to process arrestees is a de facto detention center plagued by inhumane conditions Trump previously threatened to send the National Guard into Chicago but has yet to follow through Portland Oregon Democratic Gov Tina Kotek responded to Trump s comments that he was authorizing Full Force if necessary to handle domestic terrorists by saying he is abusing his authority by ordering troops into a city that she disclosed is doing just fine on its own Other governing body police and business leaders disclosed soldiers are not needed and Trump is presenting a false picture of the city There is no insurrection There is no threat to national measure Kotek stated reporters The governor mentioned she tried to understand his reasoning during their conversation and his response was just Let s keep talking A Pentagon spokesperson reported the Department of Defense would provide information and updates when available A spokesperson for the Oregon National Guard announced any requests for Guard advocacy would need to be coordinated through the governor s office Late Saturday a small crowd of protesters gathered on the sidewalk outside an ICE facility One person was arrested by federal law enforcement after a brief confrontation as ICE agents cleared a path for a truck exiting the facility Up-to-date demonstrations have focused on the area around the ICE building Chosen federal agents have been injured and several protesters have been charged with assault Several demonstrators also say they have been injured Memphis Trump mentioned earlier this month that he was creating a task force of federal law enforcement agencies to combat crime in Memphis The city has experienced high numbers of violent crimes such as carjackings and homicides in latest years but both Democratic and Republican functionaries have noted that the majority-Black city is seeing decreases this year in selected crime categories Lee the governor has publicly announced he would not expect more than National Guard members to be sent to Memphis though he s announced the numbers aren t solidified The city commented Friday there won t be tanks The Guard troops won t be making arrests and won t be armed unless local agents request that Lee revealed Friday It s unclear when Guard members will arrive Lee also mentioned Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers will be in the region Latinos in Memphis have expressed concern that ICE agents will increase their presence in Memphis and detain people who are in the country legally On Saturday dozens of people marched to a plaza in front of City Hall to protest the law enforcement surge Speakers at a news conference announced that instead of federal troops and agents Memphis necessities more funding for teaching crime prevention youth services and hospitals Oregon bureaucrats have made similar comments